IPL 2021 news: Will cricketers be vaccinated before playing Indian Premier League 2021?

Will cricketers be vaccinated: The growing number of coronavirus cases in the country include three Indian players as well.

Concerns regarding the 14th season of the Indian Premier League being conducted amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in India are starting to build up. With less than a week remaining for the start of the tournament, the start won’t be affected but stricter COVID-19 guidelines could be in place for all stakeholders.

In what is being termed as a “second wave” in the country, the number of cases are surely a worry for the government authorities with some states having already issued a warning with respect to another lockdown.

Following the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Nitish Rana and Delhi Capitals all-rounder Axar Patel, Royal Challengers Bangalore opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal also reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 this morning. Unlike Patel, Rana has returned two negative tests well in time before Kolkata’s season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 11.

Will cricketers be vaccinated before playing IPL 2021?

Meanwhile, BCCI vice-President Rajeev Shukla has voiced his opinion around the need of playing getting vaccinated before the tournament to ensure everyone’s well-being. Speaking to ANI, Shukla considered vaccination as the “only solution” for players to play “easily” in IPL 2021.

“In order to cope with this coronavirus rise, I think the only solution is to get vaccinated. BCCI is also thinking on those lines that players should be vaccinated.

“Nobody knows when coronavirus is going to end and you can’t give a deadline that by this time frame, it will not be there so players can play easily. So, I think now will have to think over that. Vaccination should be done for the players also,” Shukla was quoted as saying by ANI.

Furthermore, Shukla mentioned that BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is mulling over the idea of vaccination ahead of the cash-rich league. “BCCI is mulling over the idea of vaccination and they will definitely get in touch with Health Ministry that players should be vaccinated,” Shukla said.